Why it matters: The state's conditions this summer are comparable to the devastating 2020 wildfire seasonthat saw a recording-breaking number of human-caused blazes, per the Utah News Dispatch.
Wildfire season spans between June and September.
What they're saying: "We've had a couple of good winters, which means a good amount of new [vegetation] growth has emerged," Jon Meyer, a climatologist for Utah State University's climate center, told Axios.
That growth means more fuel to burn.
A delayed monsoon season in Utah is also likely to bring less precipitation during the summer months, resulting in dryer conditions, Meyer noted.
By the numbers: Generally, almost half of all wildfires in the state are caused by humans as a result of campfires, vehicles, fireworks and shooting firearms, Jamie Barnes, director and state forester for the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands said in a news briefing earlier this month.
So far this year, 242 wildfires in the state have burned over 3,603 acres, per Utah Fire Info. About 80% of the wildfires have been human-caused.
In 2020, there were nearly 1,550 wildfires that ignited more than 300,000 acres, KSL.com reported.
The latest: The Little Twist wildfire in southwestern Utah is currently the largest one burning in the state and has scorched more than 2,000 acres.
